Letter to the Editor - March 20

March 20, 2013

Maryland residents should oppose gas tax

To the editor:

In response to the recent proposal for yet another tax on Maryland, Gov. O’Malley has requested that the current legislature pass legislation to add another tax — a gas tax. The gas tax would initially add 2 cents per gallon and cap at 6 cents total to each gallon of gas. This means higher prices for all, not only at the gas pump, but on goods and services. Why?

The gas tax is another attempt to raise funds for the Maryland State transportation fund because previous money that was in the fund was squandered for other things — not just roads and bridges. This new gas tax would require that any money collected be kept for only transportation issues, like the InterCounty Connector. This proposal is a means to pay for the ICC and other mass transportation that suburban counties benefit from. It does not offer any proportional allocations to the outlying counties, like Washington County.

So, while our cost to commute goes up because the gas tax will raise our cost at the pump, we do not benefit from the increase in cost. In addition, this certainly does not promote a “pro business” environment at a time when the FBI is considering Virginia and Maryland for placement of its new headquarters. Our governor says he is “pro business?”

The Hagerstown TEA Party encourages all residents of Maryland to contact their legislators and say “no” to any increase in taxes, at the pump or anywhere else. We, the people, are taxed enough already. We must let our voices be heard.